Common Causes of Miscarriage All Expectant Mothers Need to Know

One of the most horrible and unfortunate events that may happen to a pregnant woman is ‘Miscarriage’. Miscarriages are hard on a woman and even though the film and television industry may dramatize it and often introduce a scheming mother-in-law or vindictive ex-boyfriend as important factors; there are in fact a few, highly avoidable real causes. A little more care, a little more alertness, a little more caution could save the life of your unborn!

Getting down to the textbook definition of miscarriages, they’re typically described as ‘a loss of foetus before the 20th week of a woman’s pregnancy’. The medical term for miscarriage is known as ‘spontaneous abortion’ but the key word being spontaneous since it’s anything but an abortion in the common sense of the world. An ASTOUNDING fact that will blow your mind: Almost 50% of all pregnancies end in miscarriages, most even before the woman misses her period or even knows that she’s pregnant. Another 15-20 % of all known pregnancies end in a miscarriage! Sad, but true.

The statistics don’t end here folks, more than 80% of miscarriages happen within the first three months of pregnancy! Miscarriages are less likely to occur after 20 weeks gestation, but however in the event that they do we call them late miscarriages (a pretty self-explanatory). We’re listing down a few symptoms of miscarriages to make you understand the phenomenon better so you can be informed and aware in the event of someone you know experiencing a similar phenomenon.

Bleeding which progresses from light to heavy

The patient may experience severe cramps

Abdominal pain

Fever, weakness and back pain.

The most common cause of a miscarriage is chromosomal abnormality which means genetic abnormality in the embryo because of which it is unable to grow and develop.

However, that’s not the only risk factor to be considered. Various forms of intoxication including drugs, alcohol and smoking affect the baby’s health and can be a cause. Chronic illnesses such as uncontrolled diabetes or infections such as Lyme disease are also possible causes. Then of course there’s maternal trauma which includes all the uncontrollable accidents such as car accidents, falls or similar other dangers that a pregnant woman shouldn’t be exposed to in the first place!

Key causes of Miscarriages include –

Thyroid disorders: Whether it is hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, both conditions can affect fertility and be a cause for constant miscarriages. In cases where a woman’s thyroid function is low, her body will try to battle it by producing hormones that can actually suppress ovulation and not promote it! Alternately, thyroid that is producing too many hormones can interfere with oestrogen’s ability to do its job and make the uterus unfavourable for implantation.

Diabetes: This one goes under the radar but should not be ignored. Diabetes is not something you can combat just by replacing your sugar with stevia, and uncontrolled diabetes can very often lead to miscarriages. They should regularly stay in touch with the doctor to ensure that their blood sugar levels are monitored and they don’t go for long periods without supervision. Making sure everything is under control and adhering to a fixed routine with the right kind of diet is the key to combating this cause.

Physical Abnormalities: Not all, but in some cases there are certain physical abnormalities such as uterine abnormalities including septum or polyps or a possible complication with the cervix. In most cases of physical abnormalities, miscarriages occur in the 2nd and 3rdtrimesters.

Blood clotting disorders: Like physical abnormalities, miscarriages that result from blood clotting disorders are rare, but do occur. Just being uncommon does not rule out the reason entirely.

Another thing about miscarriages is that once they happen, it takes a certain amount of time for the individual to recover both physically and mentally before you can conceive a foetus again. The body may take a few months before it is pregnancy ready again. A doctor would be better to let you know on timelines and stuff, but even then you don’t need to rush into things. Miscarriages can leave their mark on the family, especially the mother and it’s of utmost importance to support the woman and help keep her healthy and happy so that she stays in the peak of her health and bounces back from this even stronger.

And, don’t forget:

You may have heard of couples waiting to announce a pregnancy until the risk of having a miscarriage is lower. The further you are into the pregnancy, the less likely you are to miscarry. However, you need not wait to announce the same to your doctor to ensure a safe and happy pregnancy.

Note We at Medikoe provide you with the best healthcare articles written and endorsed by experts of the healthcare industry to boost you knowledge. However, we strongly recommend that users consult a doctor or concerned service provider for expert diagnosis before acting on this information.